Hypoallergenic materials
Hypoallergenic materials are substances engineered or selected to reduce the likelihood of provoking allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. These materials are used in a variety of fields, including medical devices, textiles, and infant nutrition, to enhance safety and comfort for people prone to allergies.
Definition
[edit]The term hypoallergenic refers to materials that are less likely to cause allergic responses compared to conventional alternatives. While no material is guaranteed to be completely free of allergenic potential, hypoallergenic materials are specifically tested and chosen for their reduced risk of triggering hypersensitivity reactions.[1]
Applications
[edit]Medical devices
[edit]The use of hypoallergenic materials in medical devices is critical for minimizing allergic reactions, particularly in patients with sensitivities to metals or polymers. Titanium and certain high-grade ceramics are widely used due to their excellent biocompatibility and low incidence of hypersensitivity reactions.[2] Studies have shown that titanium implants, commonly used in dental and orthopedic applications, rarely provoke allergic responses, making them a preferred choice for sensitive individuals.[3]
Additionally, advancements in surface modification techniques (such as anodization and coating with biocompatible ceramics) have further reduced the risk of allergic reactions by creating stable, inert surfaces that limit the release of potentially sensitizing ions.[2] Regulatory guidelines, such as those outlined in the ISO 10993 series for biological evaluation of medical devices, require extensive testing for sensitization and cytotoxicity before approval of new materials for medical devices, ensuring a high standard of safety for patients with known allergies.[4]
Ceramic implants, such as zirconia, are also gaining popularity in dentistry and orthopedics as hypoallergenic alternatives, especially for patients with confirmed metal allergies.[5]
Textiles and fabrics
[edit]Textile allergies, especially contact dermatitis, are often triggered by chemicals such as formaldehyde or Isothiazolinone used in textile processing. Research highlights the importance of developing textiles with reduced allergenic potential. Innovations include medical textiles with antimicrobial properties and smart textiles designed for sensitive skin. In vivo and in vitro testing methods, such as patch testing, are used to evaluate the hypoallergenic nature of these materials.[1]
Recent studies demonstrate that certain nanocomposite textiles, engineered with antimicrobial and hypoallergenic properties, are non-irritating and safe for human skin, as confirmed by dermatological testing.[6]
Dental and orthopedic materials
[edit]Hypoallergenic alternatives to conventional polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base resins have been developed to address allergic reactions in dental prosthetics. In vitro studies show that these hypoallergenic denture base resins possess mechanical properties comparable to traditional PMMA materials, providing safe options for sensitive patients.[7]
Infant nutrition
[edit]Hypoallergenic infant formulas, particularly those containing extensively hydrolyzed proteins, are recommended for infants at high risk of allergy. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses confirm that these formulas reduce the incidence of atopic dermatitis and cow’s milk allergy compared to standard cow’s milk formulas.[8][9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Sanchez Armengol, Eva; Blanka Kerezsi, Aletta; Laffleur, Flavia (September 2022). "Allergies caused by textiles: control, research and future perspective in the medical field". International Immunopharmacology. 110: 109043. doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109043. ISSN 1878-1705. PMID 35843147.
- ^ a b Davison, Glenda M.; Hendrickse, Heather L.; Matsha, Tandi E. (2020-03-31). "Do Blood Group Antigens and the Red Cell Membrane Influence Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection?". Cells. 9 (4): 845. doi:10.3390/cells9040845. ISSN 2073-4409. PMC 7226767. PMID 32244465.
- ^ Sicilia, Alberto; Cuesta, Susana; Coma, Gerardo; Arregui, Ignacio; Guisasola, Cristina; Ruiz, Eduardo; Maestro, Antonio (August 2008). "Titanium allergy in dental implant patients: a clinical study on 1500 consecutive patients". Clinical Oral Implants Research. 19 (8): 823–835. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0501.2008.01544.x. hdl:10651/7228. ISSN 1600-0501. PMID 18705814.
- ^ Kanďárová, Helena; Pôbiš, Peter (2023). "The "Big Three" in biocompatibility testing of medical devices: implementation of alternatives to animal experimentation-are we there yet?". Frontiers in Toxicology. 5: 1337468. doi:10.3389/ftox.2023.1337468. ISSN 2673-3080. PMC 10800850. PMID 38259728.
- ^ Allahdina, Ali M.; Chen, Katherine G.; Alvarez, Jason A.; Wong, Wai T.; Chew, Emily Y.; Cukras, Catherine A. (March 2019). "Longitudinal Changes in Eyes with Hydroxychloroquine Retinal Toxicity". Retina. 39 (3): 473–484. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000002437. ISSN 1539-2864. PMC 12066020. PMID 30741731.
- ^ Novi, Vinni Thekkudan; Gonzalez, Andrew; Brockgreitens, John; Abbas, Abdennour (2022-10-15). "Highly efficient and durable antimicrobial nanocomposite textiles". Scientific Reports. 12 (1): 17332. Bibcode:2022NatSR..1217332N. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22370-2. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 9568944. PMID 36243757.
- ^ Hinz, Sebastian; Bensel, Tobias; Bömicke, Wolfgang; Boeckler, Arne F. (2022-05-18). "In Vitro Analysis of the Mechanical Properties of Hypoallergenic Denture Base Resins". Materials. 15 (10): 3611. Bibcode:2022Mate...15.3611H. doi:10.3390/ma15103611. ISSN 1996-1944. PMC 9147828. PMID 35629638.
- ^ Hays, Tiffani; Wood, Robert A. (2005-09-01). "A Systematic Review of the Role of Hydrolyzed Infant Formulas in Allergy Prevention". Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 159 (9): 810–816. doi:10.1001/archpedi.159.9.810. ISSN 1072-4710. PMID 16143739.
- ^ Osborn, David A.; Sinn, John Kh; Jones, Lisa J. (2017-03-15). "Infant formulas containing hydrolysed protein for prevention of allergic disease and food allergy". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 3 (3): CD003664. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003664.pub4. ISSN 1469-493X. PMC 6464507. PMID 28293923.